The political framework of Poland

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Andrzej Duda (since 6 August 2015)
Prime Minister: Donald Tusk (since 13 December 2023)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: May 2025
Senate: October 2027
Sejm: October 2027

Current Political Context

After eight years of right-wing governments led by the Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party (PiS), Donald Tusk, a veteran politician who already served as premier in the past, was sworn in as prime minister in December 2023. Following the October 15 elections, President Andrzej Duda tasked outgoing PM Morawiecki with forming a majority in Parliament, despite his recent electoral setback. Morawiecki, rejected by 266 out of 460 MPs, withdrew, leading to the appointment of a new premier-designate through a subsequent vote (248 in favour, 201 against). Within 24 hours, Tusk outlined his government program and secured majority support with the votes of the coalition parties from the October elections: Civic Coalition (157), Third Way Liberals (65), and the Social Democrats of Lewica (26). During its first year in power, the new government sought to tackle issues in key state institutions, such as public media and the judiciary, which had been influenced by the authorities under the previous PiS government.
The opposition Law and Justice party received the most votes in Poland's April municipal elections, but the ruling coalition kept its majority. The Civic Coalition emerged as the largest party in Poland's delegation to the European Parliament in June. These outcomes paved the way for the presidential election in May 2025, which is expected to be a referendum on the policies of the current administration. Polish farmers' demonstrations over the EU Green Deal's expectations and the import of Ukrainian agricultural products also characterized 2024.
Concerning foreign and defence policy, Poland emphasized security and defence readiness while maintaining a firm stance toward Russia. Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized how important it is for Europe to increase its military spending on NATO. Additionally, Poland stepped up its attempts to strengthen its borders with Belarus and Russia. With the goal of strengthening defence capabilities along the eastern frontier, the "East Shield" project began construction by the end of 2024. Poland also established a NATO missile installation in the country's northern area.

Main Political Parties

Poland is generally governed by a coalition government. The country's main parties/coalitions are:

- Law & Justice (PiS): right-wing, populist, mildly euro-sceptic and based on a platform of law and order
- Civic Platform (KO): big tent, pro-European
- Poland 2050 (PL2050): founded as a social movement in 2020, centrist
- Polish People's Party (PSL): Christian democratic, centrist, represents farming communities
- New Left (NL): centre-left, formed in 2021 as a merger of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and Spring
- Sovereign Poland (SP): right-wing, formerly known as United Poland, merged with PiS in 2024
- Together Party (Razem): left-wing, socialist, democratic
- Confederation Liberty and Independence (KWiN): far-right, populist
- Modern: liberal, centrist
- New Hope (NN): right wing.

Other parties include The Republicans, Polish Initiative, The Greens, Centre for Poland, Kukiz'15, Yes! For Poland, Confederation of the Polish Crown, and AGROuni.

Executive Power

The President is the head of State, elected by universal suffrage for a five year term. The Prime Minister is the head of the government. He is appointed by the President, an appointment which must be confirmed by the lower house of Parliament (as a general rule, he is the leader of the majority party or coalition), for a four-year term of office (or earlier if the government loses the confidence of the lower house). The Prime Minister holds the executive power, which includes the enforcement of the law and the management of the country's current affairs. The Council of Ministers is proposed by the Prime Minister and approved by the lower house before being appointed by the President.

Legislative Power

The legislative power in Poland is bi-cameral. Parliament is composed of the Senate (upper house, which has 100 seats and whose members are elected by a majority vote in single-member constituencies, for a four-year term of office) and of the Sejm (lower house, which has 460 seats and whose members are elected by proportional representation from multi-member constituencies, for a mandate of four years). The President has the right to veto legislation passed by Parliament, but the Sejm can override the veto with a two-thirds majority.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

64/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

2/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House